The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-02-08
MISS nina VAN ZlADT,
WHO CLAIMS TO BE THE WIFE
OF TIE ANARCHIST
Spies, is Under Psychologist Control,
and is Net Responsible for
Her ActiOns.

NEW YORK, February IA Herald
reporter visited MissVan ZInt recendt
lv and interviewed her: "This Is Miss
Nina Van Zaudt2" he said. "No, SIR
lisped the lady; "this is Mrs. Angus
Spies, who was formerly Miss Van
Zaudt. Pray, who are your" The
correspondent made known his ider.
tity. In an instant Mrs. Spies assumed
an air Of chilling dignity. 81 have
nothing to say to You. sir" she ex.
claimed, nervously. 81 have nothing
to say to any newspaper man." "Why
not2' because have given my de.
liberate promise TO remain absolutely
silent in the presence Of reporters OF
correspondents" And the pretty
woman closed her lips in a way that
showed she meant to keep her pledge.
ITO whom have you given this prom
Use ?" was asked. II shall not tell you
that" she answered, decidedly, "nor
anything else"
The correspondent suggested tbat
Mrs. Spies was prtjudicsd; that her
conduct was impusive and without a
due regard TO the particular circum.
stances of the case. he begged the
lady TO take few minutes for consid-
GRAFTON before giving her final reply.
She certainly was picturesque crea
ture as she stood there glaring at her
visitor. 1t was queer scene altogether
in that little room away up on the top
floor OF No. 102 Madison street. A
si9a on the door indicated that 1t was
the workshop of Henry Spies, Men
uflcturing Jeweler." 1T seems the
most absurd business In the world for
an anarchist, that of manufacturing
costly bijous and gewgaws for moneyed
aristocrstj. In one corner eat fat
laced apprentice filing away content
eddy at gold watchcase. His fea ures
fairly beamed with good nature
and unlimited indulgence in
Schweitzer kase, pumpernickle and
hofDrau beer. In the opposite
corner stood Miss Van Zlndt's
desk, from which she had risen to re-.
ceiye the HeraldS representative. II
! vas strewn W III open letters and the
CORY bound autobiographies OF
August Spies, which the strange girl
has Just published. Ia the middle
of the room there glowed a coy stove
with half dozsn chairs ranged round
II, suggestive OF lounging guests and
ready welcome. Somehow ii scanned
easier to look at all these things than
at the pretty woman with her half
melancholy, half defiant eyes and
sympathetic face. Ode began to
wonder, but 1t was Miss Van Zindt
who interrupted the possible reverie:
"You are from the Herald" she
asked.
YES, and the Herald has sought to
treat you with all the consideration
due your sex and circumstances"
Il believe that is true" she an
swered promptly. SIN fac, have
been told by some Of my friends that
the Herald is quite respectable paper,
as papers CO." Then she glanced TIM
orously at the clock, then at the door.
But hate them ALL" She went on
in manner Of impressive intensity:
"Think how they have abused me,
how they have misrepresented me and
how they have held me up TO ridicule.
What right have they, before God or
man, to pry into the priva.e affairs of
two persons2 Why should l not
marry August Spies il l wish TOT Why
should l not marry him in any way /
wish tor" The correspondent con-
fessed his inability to give satisfac-
tory reply to these 'amatory
queries, but ventured to inform Miss
Van Zandt that when she threw her
fortunes with such notorious persons
as the Chicago anarchists che became
q character OF public interest. II this
was designed to touch the womsn's
vanity 1t certainly Jailed Of the pur-
pose. Granting that even," che re-
sumed, "have not persons Of pubic
interest the right of eanctity in their
private affairs Ny marriage to August
Spies concerns no one but myself and"
she added after pause that was 81
most scotland him."
"You do regard yourself. then, as
the wife of Spiesp"
Beyond a doubt, cir, though the
question is:h lrdly polite, Still l don't
blame you, do not blame the papers.
They merely give the American peo-
pie the material they want to reed. 1t
is the people, the American people, l
blame for this. 1t is their vulgar
taste tina demands the exposure OF
what ought to be sacred, and isn't, 1t
ia O pretty common airy Gu their b 0as,-
ed culture aud civilization. They do
not realize what misery their vicious
curiosity brings into the world, l did
not myself realiEl what a wicked
thing II is to NEEDLE in the personal
affairs of other people, but it has
come straight home to me now, and it
has taught me goodly less On" The
speakers manner had gradually
changed. The cold stolidity with
which she had expressed her deter.
mination to maintain complete silence
melted away with the heat of her
words and the FIRE Of her temper. 1t
seemed relief to give ut
terance to her passionate hatred
OF the world in general and the
American people in particular.
Print what / say OF them," she
cried in voice tremulous with tears.
"Tell them how they have wounded a
woman's heat; tell them A
click OF the door knob. The girl lis
tened, aud ceased speaking. In her
soft liquid eyes sprang the pitiful looks
of the affrighted iawn when It comes
before the lantern OF the night hunter
upon the bank OF forest lake. The
door opened and someone sided in
a sleek, snaky looking man, with car
roty hair and face like mealy pota-
toes. He crswled noiselessly up 10
the stove. Nina glanced at him and
seemed to obey some sign, almost in.
voluntarily. She acted as one pos
sessed. Such an awfully impressive
Transformation must be seen. 1t can.
not be described. II was as IL she
bad suddenly lost her identity, as If heI
very toul had lett her. The mystic
ekill of the mesmeiist cou d not have
worked q greater change. MOI
word did she utter. She
no longer seemed to know OF the
existence before her Of hated news.
paper man. II was a relief to get away
from the uncauny scene, to get once
more into the fresh air and God's
sunshine, aud see common every day